I am very excited to welcome Melissa Belle, author of a recently released Austen-inspired novel titled, Austen’s Independence Day, to Austenesque Reviews today! Melissa’s book takes place in Austen (not to be confused with Austin), Texas in a small town where Jane Austen’s ghost now resides (that’s right, Jane Austen’s ghost is stuck in Texas?!?).  Today, Melissa is sharing a little excerpt from her story to whet your appetite!  We hope you enjoy!

Macey Henwood and Morgan Thornbrush are lifelong friends with occasional benefits, who accompany their friends to Vegas for a wedding. But when Macey and Morgan wake up married, she insists on a divorce, telling Morgan he’s the last person on earth she’d ever give up her independence for. Fast-forward six weeks later: Morgan’s engaged to another woman and Macey never signed the divorce papers. In the following scene at The Cowherd Saloon & Chapel—Macey’s family bar where the ghost of Jane Austen is legendarily locked up in a jail cell—Morgan has stopped by to get his divorce papers. Macey’s a little preoccupied…

Warning: There is some use of strong language in this excerpt.

~ Excerpt ~

“So Macey, you want to meet my fiancé?”

I look up at Morgan sharply, and then down. Thank God for this dishrag. I look at the bar counter in front of me and go vigorously after a large stain.

“Is that wipe down a yes?” Morgan says. “Or just polite country slang for ‘no thank you?’”

His mouth turns up in a smile, but I stick my tongue out at him and grab two beers. But as I go to open the first one, the beer fizzes and comes out forcefully, soaking my dress.

“Shit!” I hold the can away from my body too late and look down at the enormous wet stain all over the front of my Maid of Honor dress.

“You have clothes in your office?”

I hesitate. “Yeah. But…”

But…I can’t take this dress off without help. It has no zippers and is one of those irritating gowns that have to be lifted over the head. Oh, why is this happening?

Morgan’s watching me. And, like always, he proves to be a Macey Henwood mind-reader. “You need some help?”

“No.” I squeeze my hands around the wet fabric, trying to wring it dry somehow.

“Oh, come on. I know Eloise and Helena Rattles are already fit to be tied that you walked out of the store in that thing. Don’t give them another reason to be mad at you.”

“How do you know I came from the store?”

“Besides the fact that you don’t normally walk around town in a God-ugly bridesmaid’s dress?”

I give him a dirty look.

“Ginny texted me that you were coming. Like a warning.” He smirks.

We walk to the liquor room and I pour some cat food into the customized “Mr. Bingley” food bowl that Mama ordered for our adopted bar kitty.

When I can’t think of any other way to avoid the inevitable, I slowly turn back to Morgan, who’s leaning casually against my desk.

“So what’s up?” he says.

I try to sound nonchalant. “Things have changed. Apparently Mayor Huggins doesn’t have faith that Daddy can kick the habit, and he won’t let him run the bar if he can’t be trusted. So he amended the contract.”

“For what? Another six months?”

“For forever.” I look away from him as I say it because I’m scared if I look into his eyes it will make me cry.

“Forever!” Morgan says incredulously. “What the fuck is that, like eternal imprisonment?”

“It is what it is right now.” I resist his eyes again by focusing on the cell behind him. “Daddy has agreed to sell, but only if the imaginary ghost of Jane Austen goes free from that jail cell. So I guess that’s where you and your new lover come in to save the day.” I reluctantly turn to him. “Anyway…no peeking. Just…” I reach for the hem of my dress. “I’ll lift it up to my waist, and then you’ll have to take it from there.”

Morgan nods and I add: “But once you start, don’t stop halfway or else it will get stuck and that really freaks me out.”

“Don’t worry.” He winks at me. “You know I never stop halfway.”

As Morgan steps closer I can smell his cologne. That manly moss scent just about covers up—but not quite—the equally intoxicating aroma of hay and horse and cattle that’s a part of any cowboy.

“Let’s get this over with.” I raise the hem to my hips, and then feel Morgan’s strong hands on me as he gently touches my waist and takes hold of the dress.

The gown comes off far more easily than it did the last time Eloise helped me, and before I know it, I’m standing in front of Morgan in a bra and underwear.

I step to the side of my desk and manage to reach into my top drawer while I avoid his gaze and look instead at his farmer tan and that solid chest I’ve leaned on for comfort so many times before. I get hold of my jean shorts and wriggle into them, knowing he’s watching every move I make. Finally, I allow my gaze to meet his, and my body tightens and sways in response to the undisguised heat in his eyes.

Morgan coughs and steps backward hastily. His lips are parted and his glazed eyes are still locked with mine. I try to play it casual, but my damn legs are trembling. I reach out and put one hand on his chest for balance, then I grab a shirt out of my drawer and pull it over my head, before I lean back against the desk and cross my arms over my heart.

“So.” I clear my throat. “Tell me how you and Gigi met.”

“Sh—” Morgan swallows and blinks to break the eye contact with me, then starts over. “She was in Fort Davis with her father. They flew there on a private jet.”

I unconsciously straighten my ponytail and smooth back the hairs that have fallen out from the humidity. Pretty cool to be able to flit around the country just for fun. Pretty cool to not have to worry about working, ever.

“What about tomorrow at seven, Mace—we’ll meet here?”

Morgan lowers his head to force me to make eye contact.

I’ve always found that disconcerting, especially when I really don’t want the person to see what I’m feeling inside. I usually try to look away quick, before they can catch me in a gaze, but Morgan’s pretty much caught me good. We stare at each other and I thank God for the background buzz of the air conditioner, or else I know I’d be able to hear him breathing. I’d probably be able to hear his heart beat, too.

“Sure,” I say as I go to walk him out. “Tomorrow at seven. See ya, Mr. Darcy.”

So, Morgan is Mr. Darcy…but who will be his Elizabeth Bennet?  You must read to find out!  Thanks for sharing this tempting excerpt, Melissa!  I so loved my time with Macey and Morgan!

• This giveaway is open worldwide.  Thank you, Melissa!
• This giveaway ends July 15th!

Want to double your chances?  Come back Monday and check out my review of Austen’s Independence Day!!